A blanket or heating pad may help keep you warm during the winter. But experts warn of potential dangers.
Excessive exposure to extreme heat can cause significant skin damage. or a condition called Toasted Skin Syndrome occurs
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Many users of heated blankets have shared their own experiences with this syndrome on social media. They display color-changing patterns on their skin.
One TikTok user named Faith Harrell (@faith_harrell) posted a video about skin discoloration on her stomach from using an inserted heating pad.
“Your friendly reminder to not overuse the heating pad on your belly at the highest level,” Faith Harrell wrote in the TikTok video, which currently has seven million views. (TikTok @faith_harrell)
“Your friendly reminder to not overuse the heating pad on your stomach at the highest level,” she wrote in the video, which has been viewed 7 million times to date.
Harrell told Fox News Digital that the burns were “not painful” but caused “a lot of itching.”
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Although the blotchy skin hasn’t faded, Harrell said she still sleeps with a heating pad over clothing on her stomach.
“It hasn’t gone away. But it can go away if you stop applying heat to the affected area of skin,” Harrell told Fox News Digital. (TikTok @faith_harrell)
Manhattan dermatologist Dr. Brendan Camp says toasted skin syndrome, officially known as erythema ab igne (EAI), is “a form of discoloration that occurs It occurs in areas of the skin after prolonged exposure to heat sources.”
The main cause is long-term exposure to heat. “It’s below the threshold for thermal combustion,” he told Fox News Digital.
“Although at first it may seem harmless, But repeated exposure It can lead to permanent damage and, in some cases, increase the risk of skin cancer.”
Camp noted that Skin changes can occur after prolonged exposure to any heat source, including laptops. Heated car seats, hot water bottles, electric blankets, space heaters and a heating pad used to treat lower back pain.
“A sunburn is unlikely to occur after a single exposure,” he said. “It occurs after repeated exposure to the same heat source.”
Experts warn that other hot items include laptops, heated car seats, hot water bottles, electric blankets and space heaters. May cause skin burns. (Istock)
Dr. Alexandra Bowles, a board-certified dermatologist at MONA Dermatology in Cincinnati, Ohio, adds that the condition is caused by: “A reddish-brown stain that may become prominent and permanent over time.”
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“This happens when the skin is exposed to heat high enough to dilate blood vessels. But not to the point of causing burns,” she told Fox News Digital.
“Even though it may seem harmless at first, But repeated exposure It can lead to permanent damage and, in some cases, increase the risk of skin cancer due to heat-induced cellular changes.”
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Camp agrees that the long-term risks of sunburn are: “Development of malignancy” as in some cancers in the affected area due to damaged skin cells
Experts warn that prolonged exposure to hot objects and burns can lead to an increased risk of cancer. (Istock)
To prevent burns, Bowles recommends avoiding direct and prolonged exposure to heat sources. and use a barrier, such as a cloth, between the skin and the heat.
“If you notice any unusual changes in skin color or texture, It’s a good idea to consult a dermatologist,” she says. “Early detection of potential problems It can help prevent long-term skin damage.”
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The camp also recommends avoiding such conditions. “Careful use of heat-generating electronic devices such as laptops and heated car seats.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to several producers for comment.
